Hush Heath Estate, the 400-acre estate comprising 100 acres of vineyards nestled amongst rolling hills in Kent, the Garden of England, has been awarded a Gold accolade by Visit England. The only English winery attraction to achieve the highest award of Gold, Hush Heath Estate is recognised as providing an outstanding experience to visitors from around the world.

76 attractions have been recognised in Visit England’s annual assessment and only 16 achieved the highest Gold award, based on the score they obtained from the Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme assessment.

In late autumn 2018, Hush Heath Estate officially launched the premium English producer’s new winery and 200-seater tasting room – “The View.” The launch open weekend welcomed almost 2,000 visitors, and unveiled the expansion in Staplehurst, Kent. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for the boutique, family-owned company, as part of a journey to explore and share the wonders of wine and tourism in this country.

Speaking about the Gold accolade from Visit England, producer Richard Balfour-Lynn commented: “Wine is about entertainment and hospitality. Our doors at Hush Heath estate are open to welcome visitors all year round. We have a world-class attraction that showcases the charm of the English countryside and respects the wildlife that lives here. Hush Heath Estate also produces the highest quality fruits that make our premium English wines and Kentish ciders. Our tour guides give an outstanding experience to visitors, combining an informative visit with the fun of wine tasting – there is also a chance to buy. The team in the vineyard and the winery are all very passionate about everything they do, which is why we are delighted to collect a Gold award this year from Visit England. As the only English winery recognised for this award, the accolade really puts us on the map.”

Over the next five years, Hush Heath Estate’s tourism centre, The View, expects to receive up to 50,000 visitors per annum.